Social Media Is Obsessed With Rare Beauty & Their Products Absolutely Live Up To The Hype
Selena Gomez is once again the reigning queen of Instagram, reaching a whole new level of support at 400M+ followers. Whether you are a Selenator or not, you have to admit it is pretty legendary to leave the platform for as long as Gomez has, only to return and become the most followed woman to date. This massive growth and general outpour of support are heavily influenced by the success and impact of her brand, Rare Beauty.
If you are not familiar, Rare Beauty supports mental well-being across age, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, cultural background, physical or mental ability, and perspective. The beauty brand's mission is heavily intertwined with Gomez’s experience in the public eye and struggles with mental health. Rare Beauty celebrates uniqueness and individuality, stepping away from unachievable and unrealistic beauty standards, which has, in turn, set Selena Gomez apart.
Rare Beauty encourages us to question what would happen if we stopped trying to be perfect. They open the door for honest dialogue around conventional beauty and the correlation it has on our mental health.
It's clear to see the heart of the brand not only through the Rare Impact Fund but the faces behind the brand. Rare Beauty truly celebrates inclusivity. My favorite example of this is Toni Bravo, known as @bonitravo on TikTok, a former Rare Beauty Social Associate.
@bonitravo thank me later 🤝
Bravo, through several viral videos showcases the depth and range of Rare Beauty products with her unique sunset blush combos for deep and dark skin tones. Bravo spotlights the areas in the beauty space where Black women are generally left out of the conversation. She emphasizes complexion products with the proper undertones, and blushes and highlighters with deep enough shades to complement and enhance our features.
Like Bravo, my Rare Beauty favorites that sparked my love for the brand are:
The Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer
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I’m in the color 56N and the shade match for the Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer is flawless!
The Always an Optimist Soft Radiance Setting Powder
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This setting powder doesn’t get mentioned enough and sets the face beautifully.
The approach Rare Beauty takes in shifting the narrative is refreshing. 2023 feels like a full-blown social media era, with every platform challenging our perception and pushing the limits for perfection.
It’s vital to have brands like Rare Beauty hold space to keep us grounded and individually rare.
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Featured image by Jorine Dorcelus/xoNecole
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Rihanna Talks Shedding Expectations And Finding Balance As A Mother
Since becoming a mother in 2022, Rihanna has defined parenthood by her terms and hopes to pass that sense of autonomy on to her children.
For Vogue China’s April cover story, Rihanna shared her perspective on raising her two sons with A$AP Rocky, and how she hopes to preserve her children’s uniqueness, devoid of societal expectations.
"The most beautiful thing...is that [children] come into the world with their own individuality and sincerity, without any logic or conformity,” she told the publication. “Which usually makes you feel that you must fit into a certain group."
The “Work” artist, known for her trendsetting style and captivating persona, expressed her desire to support children in fully embracing their individuality and encouraging them to be whoever they want to be. "It's really beautiful to see and I want to continue to help them navigate that and make sure that they know they can be whoever they want to be,” she says.
She continues, “They should embrace it completely, because it's beautiful, and it's unique. I love them just that way."
From shattering music charts to shaking up the beauty industry, Rihanna has forged a path that has since created the “dream” life we see today. One that she says has made her parents proud of.
“I’m living my dream,” she continued. “My parents were very proud of that because they just wanted me to be happy and successful. So, I think the key thing is to find some kind of balance. Yes, balance is important. Do this and you get the best of both worlds. You can write your own life the way you want, and it will be beautiful. Sometimes, you just need to let go of everyone’s expectations and start living your own story.”
Rihanna, who shares sons, RZA, 23 months, and Riot, 8 months, with rapper A$AP Rocky, recently shared her vision for expanding her family in the future in Interview Magazine.
When stylist Mel Ottenberg asked about the number of additional children she hoped to have, Rihanna replied, "As many as God wants me to have.”
"I don't know what God wants, but I would go for more than two. I would try for my girl,” she adds. “But of course, if it's another boy, it's another boy."
Featured image by Neil MockfordWireImage